Tag Archives: A319-114

Lufthansa’s pilots to strike on April 2-4, Lufthansa calls on the Vereinigung Cockpit pilots’ union to resume talks

Lufthansa (Frankfurt) is facing another strike by its pilots, represented by the Vereinigung Cockpit pilots’ union (VC), from April 2 through 4 next week. The labor dispute involves pay and retirement issues.

Read the full report from Reuters: CLICK HERE

Lufthansa has called for renewed talks to end the dispute and has issued this statement:

Lufthansa has called on the Vereinigung Cockpit pilots’ union (VC) to resume joint talks as soon as possible. “We still have four and a half days to avoid further disruptions for our customers, which would occur with the strike that has been announced,” said Dr Bettina Volkens, Chief Officer Human Resources and Legal, Deutsche Lufthansa AG. “We are willing to continue the discussions at any time and have laid the groundwork for negotiations with the new offer for the wage settlement and the offer concerning early retirement from flight service. With the goodwill of everyone involved, we should be able to avoid a strike,” Ms Volkens continued.

VC has announced a three-day strike for employees of Lufthansa German Airlines, Lufthansa Cargo and Germanwings at every German airport from April 2-4.

Although Lufthansa continues to hope for a negotiated solution, it is working flat out to keep the effects of a strike on its customers to a minimum. “We greatly regret the fact that this strike from April 2-4 may prevent us from bringing our passengers to their destination or back home on time. We will do everything to take care of those affected as well as we possibly can. Wherever possible, we will offer alternative travel options with. At the same time, we are still working to solve the collective bargaining dispute,” Ms Volkens said.

Lufthansa will, in any event, inform its customers in good time about the details of flight cancellations, rebooking options and alternative travel arrangements at LH.com. The Company will also send information about changes to flights by email and text message to customers who have provided their contact details.

Lufthansa made VC an improved offer for the wage settlement. It provides for a sustainable pay increase of 5.2 per cent for the period from May 1, 2012 to December 31, 2015 as well as a one-off payment for all pilots at Lufthansa German Airlines, Lufthansa Cargo and Germanwings. A pay freeze is planned for the first six months of this period. There is to be a one-off payment of €2,000 for the period from November 1, 2012 to December 31, 2013. This corresponds to 1.2 per cent of the pilots’ total remuneration. For the period from January 1, 2014 to December 31, 2015, salaries are ultimately to rise in two stages by a total of 5.2 per cent: by 3 per cent retroactively as of January 1, 2014, and by another 2.1 per cent as of July 1, 2014. The original plan of linking salary increases to the Company’s performance has been dropped. Lufthansa has therefore accepted key demands made by VC. This offer means that the pilots would make a contribution to ensuring the Group’s future viability comparable with that of other groups of employees.

Lufthansa also offered to ensure that pilots can continue to retire early in future. The offer safeguards the positions of all employees who joined Lufthansa before January 1, 2014. As before, these employees can receive up to 60 per cent of their last gross salary until they reach the earliest possible statutory retirement age of 63. From 2017, the earliest possible age at which pilots can retire from flight service at Lufthansa German Airlines will be raised, depending on the length of service, from 55 for more senior to up to 60 for younger employees. Employees who have been with the Company for thirty years or more are not affected at all by the changes. Pilots at Lufthansa Cargo and Germanwings can already leave flight service only when they reach 60 years of age, and then make use of transitional benefits.

The previous wage agreement also stipulated that Lufthansa German Airlines cockpit staff had to reach an average age of 58 for early retirement. Lufthansa’s offer now raises the agreed average early retirement age within three years from 58 to 61 years, starting in 2016. The effective average age for taking early retirement in 2013 was already 58.9 years. This also reflects the general societal trend towards longer working lives.

For pilots who start or have started work at Lufthansa after January 1, 2014, it will still be possible to retire early from flight service. The matter of financing these benefits is the subject of future talks with VC.

For all employees, the offer still includes employer-financed insurance against incapacity for flight service.

Read the 2013 Lufthansa Group Annual Report: CLICK HERE

Lufthansa:

Air Canada suspends all flights to Caracas

Air Canada (Montreal) has announced it has suspended all service to Caracas, Venezuela until further notice due to the anti-government protests in the capital city.

Read the full report from the Toronto Star: CLICK HERE

Air Canada:

Delta to offer nonstop New York LaGuardia-Bozeman, Montana flights this summer

Delta Air Lines (Atlanta) will operate weekly summer seasonal nonstop flights from New York (LaGuardia) to Bozeman, Montana starting on on June 21. The flights will be operated on Saturdays with Airbus A319s through September 27. Bozeman markets itself as the gateway airport to Yellowstone National Park mainly in Wyoming.

United Airlines also serves Bozeman from Newark and will also offer summer service from and to Houston (Bush Intercontinental) from June 28 and August 17 according to the Bozeman Daily Chronicle.

Read the full article: CLICK HERE

Copyright Photo: Ton Jochems/AirlinersGallery.com. Airbus A319-114 N344NB (msn 1766) prepares to start its runway run at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).

Delta Air Lines (current):

Air Canada rouge to add more Caribbean routes this summer, fleet to grow to 17 aircraft by the end of March

Air Canada (Montreal) today announced that its leisure carrier subsidiary, Air Canada rouge^TM, is expanding its choice of more Caribbean destinations this summer. Routes previously operated by Air Canada from Toronto and Montreal to Cuba, Dominican Republic, Bahamas,Barbados, Haiti, Cancun and Tampa, FL, will be converted beginning this spring to Air Canada rouge service. Together with its previously announced 2014 summer schedule to Europe, Air Canada rouge plans to operate a total of 44 routes serving 28 popular vacation destinations, including continuation of its summer routes – Athens, Edinburgh and Venice – and new service to Barcelona, Dublin, Lisbon,Manchester, Nice and Rome.

The conversion of additional Caribbean vacation destinations to Air Canada rouge service represents an increase of 22 per cent more seats on these routes to the Caribbean this summer than last. The increase is greatest from Montreal where there will be in an increase of 36 per cent more seats on these routes and 20 per cent more flights than last summer with the introduction of additional flights to Cancun, Port-au-Prince and Punta Cana.

By the end of March 2014, Air Canada rouge’s fleet will include four Boeing 767-300 ER aircraft and 13 Airbus A319 aircraft transferred from Air Canada. Air Canada’s mainline fleet renewal is ongoing with the introduction of new aircraft. Air Canada is scheduled to take delivery in February 2014 of the last of five new Boeing 777-300 ER aircraft to enter its mainline fleet since June 2013, and the first three of 37 Boeing 787 aircraft by the summer of 2014. Air Canada is scheduled to take delivery of a total of six 787 aircraft in 2014 and the remaining 31 between 2015 and 2019.

For its 2014 summer schedule, Air Canada rouge will operate flights to the following popular vacation destinations available with optional Air Canada Vacations packages. Flights and vacation packages are now available for purchase at aircanada.com and through travel agents:

Europe: Flights from Toronto to: Athens, Barcelona, Dublin, Edinburgh, Lisbon, Manchester and Venice. Flights from Montreal to: Athens, Barcelona, Rome and Nice.

Mexico: Flights from Toronto to Cancun, and Montreal to Cancun*.

United States: Flights from Toronto and Montreal to: Orlando and Las Vegas, and from Toronto toTampa*.

Caribbean and Central America: Flights from Toronto to: Barbados*, Jamaica (Kingston, Montego Bay);Grenada; Nassau*, Bahamas; the Dominican Republic (Puerto Plata, Punta Cana, Samana); Cuba(Varadero, Cayo Coco, Holguin and Santa Clara) and Costa Rica (San Jose and Liberia).

Flights from Montreal to: Cuba (Cayo Coco*, Holguin* and Santa Clara*); Haiti (Port-au-Prince*) andDominican Republic (Punta Cana*).

New Air Canada rouge services indicated by an asterisk (*), previously operated by Air Canada’s mainline carrier, will be converted to Air Canada rouge service on a phased-in basis beginning March through May 2014 as additional aircraft are released by the mainline airline for operation by its leisure carrier.

Air Canada rouge operates a fleet consisting of Boeing 767-300 ER and Airbus A319 aircraft.

Copyright Photo: TMK Photography/AirlinersGallery.com. Airbus A319-114 C-FYJE (msn 656) taxies from the gate at the Toronto (Pearson hub).

Air Canada:

Air Canada rouge:

Current Route Map:

Delta to become the official airline of the NHL Buffalo Sabres

Delta Air Lines (Atlanta) has announced it will serve as the official airline of the National Hockey League’s Buffalo Sabres. Additionally, the airline will provide charter service for the team throughout the 2013-2014 season.

As the official airline of the Buffalo Sabres, Delta will be featured on game day signage at the First Niagara Center, the largest indoor arena in western New York, and sponsor in-game promotions.

Delta now has marketing and/or charter relationships with nine NHL teams. Along with the Buffalo Sabres, Delta is also the official airline of the New York Rangers and Los Angeles Kings. Additionally, Delta provides charter service for the Anaheim Ducks, Minnesota Wild, Nashville Predators, Philadelphia Flyers, Toronto Maple Leafs and Washington Capitals.

Beginning in March 2012, Delta added new all-jet service from LaGuardia to key upstate markets including Buffalo, Rochester and Syracuse.

Delta is the largest airline at Buffalo Niagara International Airport, offering 23-peak day departures to five nonstop destinations including Atlanta, New York-LaGuardia, New York-JFK, Detroit and Minneapolis/St. Paul. A portion of travel for some itineraries may be on the Delta Connection carriers including Chautauqua Airlines, Endeavor Air, ExpressJet Airlines, GoJet Airlines and Shuttle America.

The Buffalo Sabres are one of 30 member clubs in the National Hockey League (NHL). The Buffalo Sabres are a professional ice hockey organization located in Buffalo, New York. The team plays host to nearly one million fans every year at its home arena, First Niagara Center, in downtown Buffalo and is one of the most visible and most successful sports entities in Western New York and Southern Ontario. Owned by Terry and Kim Pegula, the Sabres are also the parent company of its American Hockey League Affiliate (AHL), the Rochester Americans, and also the Buffalo Bandits of the National Lacrosse League (NLL).

Copyright Photo: Tony Storck/AirlinersGallery.com. Airbus A319-114 N314NB (msn 1191) prepares to land at Baltimore/Washington.

Delta Air Lines:

Delta to fly for Syracuse University

Delta Air Lines (Atlanta) is expanding its charter program flying professional and college teams to and from their games. Delta and Syracuse University announced today that Delta will serve as the official airline of Syracuse University Athletics. The Syracuse football team will also use Delta as their charter carrier for the 2013 season.

As the official airline of the Orange, Delta will be featured on game day signage at the Carrier Dome and sponsor in-game promotions during football, basketball and lacrosse games.

Delta has marketing relationships with eight NCAA athletic programs in addition to Syracuse – Boston College, Brigham Young, Duke, Georgia Tech, University of Georgia, University of Michigan, University of Minnesota and University of North Carolina. Delta serves as the charter carrier for 41 NCAA Football programs.

Beginning in March 2012, Delta added new all-jet service from LaGuardia to key Upstate New York markets, including Buffalo, Rochester and Syracuse. It continues to maintain its commitment to the Upstate community through its support of local civic arts and community organizations, including the Syracuse YMCA and the Taste of Syracuse.

Delta offers 15-peak day departures from Syracuse Hancock International Airport to five destinations, including Atlanta, Detroit, Minneapolis/St. Paul, New York-LaGuardia and New York-JFK. A portion of travel for some itineraries may be on the Delta Connection carriers: Chautauqua, Compass, Endeavor Air (formerly Pinnacle Airlines), ExpressJet or GoJet.

Copyright Photo: Bruce Drum/AirlinersGallery.com. Airbus A319-114 N363NB (msn 1990) arrives at the Minneapolis/St. Paul hub.

Delta Air Lines:

Delta cuts 29 flights from Memphis on September 3

Delta Air Lines (Atlanta) as promised, dropped 29 flights from its former Memphis hub on Tuesday, September 3. Delta will now operate around 64 flights a day into MEM on its weekday schedule. Overall the airport is down from around 300 flights a day in 2000 to around 100 total passenger flights today. Delta cut flights to Baton Rouge, Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood, Jackson, Knoxville, Little Rock, Northwest Arkansas (Fayetteville), Oklahoma City, Phoenix, St. Louis, Shreveport and Tulsa.

Read the full report from the Memphis Business Journal: CLICK HERE

Copyright Photo: Ken Petersen/AirlinersGallery.com. Former Northwest Airlines Airbus A319-114 N346NB (msn 1796) taxies to the runway at MEM.

Delta Air Lines:

Have you seen the “new look” AirlinersGallery.com?

S7 Airlines to join the Oneworld Alliance

Please click on photo for full view, information and other photos.

S7 Airlines (Moscow) is expected to become the 11th member of the Oneworld Alliance. The Russian carrier will soon start the integration process. Rival Aeroflot Russian Airlines is a member of the SkyTeam Alliance.